| Shrimathi
Sonia Gandhi called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa for
informal discussions today (Nov. 28). She met the President
at his suite in the Maurya Sheraton in New Delhi. This
is the second meeting between the Sri Lankan President
and the leader of the Congress Party in the past year.
They last met when the President came on his first official
visit to India, in December last year.
The leader of India's
ruling coalition - the United Progressive Alliance -
discussed matters of mutual interest with the President,
particularly the relations between India and Sri Lanka,
current political developments in Sri Lanka. |
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| resident
and Smt. Gandhi, considered the most powerful political
personality in India, exchanged views on the proposals
for great devolution of power in Sri Lanka. President
Rajapaksa said the Committee of Experts appointed by him
to advise the members of the All Party Conference on a
political solution, had done considerable work and proposal
by the Committee is expected by mid-December.
The discussions also covered the
Panchayat system in India, which was introduced by Smt.
Gandhi's late husband, Prime Minster Rajiv Gandhi, and
is considered as one aspect, specifically relating to
local government, among the larger proposals for devolution
of power in Sri Lanka.
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera,
Minister Douglas Devananda, Foreign Secretary H. M.
G. S. Palihakkara, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat,
Dr. Palitha Kohona, and the Sri Lankan High Commissioner
in India, Mr. Romesh Jayasinghe were present at the
meeting. |
